Accra: Executions in 2025 soared to the highest figure recorded by Amnesty International since 1981, with 2,707 people executed across 17 countries, revealed the latest annual report from the human rights organization on the global use of the death penalty.According to Amnesty International, the staggering rise recorded in the report "Death Sentences and Executions 2025" was primarily driven by a few governments determined to rule by fear. Iranian authorities were the main drivers behind the spike, executing at least 2,159 people, more than doubling their 2024 figure. Similarly, Saudi Arabia increased its execution tally to at least 356, extensively using the death penalty for drug-related offenses. Executions in Kuwait almost tripled, while they nearly doubled in Egypt, Singapore, and the United States. Overall, executions rose by 78%, with at least 1,518 executions recorded in 2024. The 2025 total does not include the thousands of executions believed to be carried out in China, which remains the world's l eading executioner.This significant increase in the use of the death penalty stems from a small group of states willing to execute at any cost, despite the global trend towards abolition. Countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia have utilized the death penalty to instill fear and suppress dissent, showcasing the strength of state institutions over marginalized communities, as stated by Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General.The resurgence of punitive approaches in the war on drugs has fueled the expansion of the death penalty, with nearly half of all known executions recorded for drug-related offenses. Countries like China, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore have seen significant numbers of executions for such offenses. Legislative efforts to expand the scope of the death penalty for drug-related offenses were made by Algeria, Kuwait, and the Maldives.In other developments, Burkina Faso adopted a draft bill reinstating the death penalty for high treason, te rrorism, and espionage, while Chad established a commission to review matters related to the death penalty, including its possible reinstatement.Despite the surge, executing countries remain an isolated minority. The same 10 countries, including China, Egypt, Iran, and the USA, have consistently carried out executions over the past five years, disregarding international human rights law and standards. Four countries, including Japan and the United Arab Emirates, resumed executions last year, bringing the total number of executing countries to 17.However, progress towards abolition continues globally. No executions or death sentences were recorded in Europe and Central Asia. The USA remains the only country in the Americas to execute people, with close to half of all US executions taking place in Florida. Sub-Saharan African executions were limited to Somalia and South Sudan. In Southeast Asia, only Singapore and Viet Nam pursued executions. Tonga remains the only country in the Pacific retaining the death penalty in law.Amnesty International's efforts against the death penalty have seen significant progress since 1977, with 113 countries now having abolished it. This year, Viet Nam abolished the death penalty for several offenses, and Gambia abolished it for murder, treason, and other state offenses. In a historic move, Alabama's Governor granted clemency to Rocky Myers, marking the first clemency for a Black person on death row in the state.In Lebanon and Nigeria, bills were introduced to abolish the death penalty, while Kyrgyzstan's Constitutional Court declared attempts to reintroduce it unconstitutional. Agnès Callamard emphasized that despite the challenges, global abolition is within reach if efforts against the death penalty continue, urging people to keep the flame of abolition burning bright.